ITER standardizes on ETAP for fusion power project

International organization will use ETAP for power system design and analysis.

By Consulting Specifying Engineer Staff

12/29/2008

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Operation Technology Inc. (OTI), developers of the ETAP enterprise solution for electrical power systems, has announced that the ITER Organization , a joint international research and development project, is using ETAP for the design and analysis of its power system.

As a part of the research and development project, ITER’s facility in Cadarache, France, will be the world’s largest experimental site to demonstrate the scientific and technical feasibility of fusion power.

When operational, ITER will study plasmas in conditions similar to those expected in an electricity-generating fusion power plant. It will generate 500 MW of fusion power for extended periods of time, 10 times more than the energy input needed to keep the plasma stable. It will therefore be the first fusion experiment to produce net power. It will also test a number of key technologies, including the heating, control, diagnostic, and remote maintenance that will be needed for a real fusion power station.

“We are proud to have the ITER Organization standardize on the ETAP Power System Solution and implement ETAP’s state-of-the-art capabilities for one of the most advanced power-generating technologies,” said Shervin Shokooh, vice president of engineering. “With worldwide demand for reliable energy on the rise, fusion energy has the potential to provide a clean, long-term solution, and we are supportive of such an imperative undertaking.”

“The ITER Project selected ETAP as the electrical analysis tool for several reasons. The U.S. nuclear qualification ensures high level of quality. Moreover, in an international environment like ITER, ETAP demonstrated a high level of support in all the countries involved in the project,” said Ivone Benfatto, head of electrical engineering division.

ETAP is used by ITER for a full spectrum of power system design and analysis, including load flow, short circuit, motor starting, reliability, ground grid design, and more.